Effect of L-arginine amino acid on liver regeneration after hepatocyte damage in rats: An experimental study.

摘要

The aim of the work was to check the therapeutic effect of L-arginine for liver cell regeneration. L-arginine is a semi-essential amino acid works as a nitric oxide precursor. Sustained released matrix beads of L- arginine were developed and tested for its hepatoprotective effect in rats (paracetamol was used to induce liver toxicity). Various biochemical tests of hepatic damage like SGPT, SGOT, ALP and bilirubin were done in all groups of animals. A toxic dose of paracetamol enhanced the SGPT, SGOT, ALP and bilirubin levels followed by treatment with silymarin as standard and L-arginine as test drugs. Histopathological studies also supported the hepatoprotective effect, containing L-arginine.Animal group treated with L-arginine indicated a significant decrease in the levels of biochemical markers to the near normal levels. The liver section of toxicant animals showed degenerative changes, aggregates of mononuclear inflammatory cells while treatment with formulations containing L-arginine helped in regaining the normal hepatic architecture, hence it can be concluded that significant effect of L-arginine was observed in liver cell regeneration.